The Government high school, Vasco is decades-old and is operational in the heart of the port town. But since the last few years, the school is forced to function in a dilapidated building ahead of the monsoon season.
Although the new academic year has just started, the students are compelled to attend class in the dilapidated building that is unsafe. Cement from the ceiling comes down crashing at regular intervals and teachers as well as students feel unsafe. There is, however, no one to hear their concern.
The teachers have narrated their tale of woe to the senior officials of the state education department. They were assured that renovation work would start and be completed before the commencement of the academic year in June. However, in the name of repairs, the concerned authority haphazardly cemented the flooring on the outside of the building and ignored the interiors of the premises said a teacher under the condition of anonymity.
What surprises not only the parents, but also teachers in this school is the fact that it is located right in the heart of the city and next to the office of the Assistant District Education Inspector (ADEI), Mormugao and yet nothing has been done to improve the condition of the building. “The ADEI office itself is in bad condition and hence we feel that the other government school buildings in Mormugao
taluka must also be facing the same level of neglect as this one,” said Vasco resident Pramod Amonkar.
A teacher, who did not wish to be identified, mentioned that the building also needed electrical repairs and not just the civil section. “We have to keep the main gate of the building closed because the cement roof above the gate is falling all the time. Some classes also face the same issue. The benches that are used by primary section students are also used by high school students. To add to the woe, the tree located right in front of the building is also posing a high risk and till date, the plea for trimming of trees hasn’t received attention. Like these, there are many issues but there’s never a solution,” said the teacher.
Although the government sanctioned several lakhs for the upgradation of school buildings in the state, work at this school could not be taken up for reasons best known to the concerned officials. The students who have been attending classes are under a constant blanket of fear. “The pathetic condition of the government school speaks volumes about the apathy of the departments concerned towards the students of weaker sections,” a parent told Herald.
